Elsie International Kindness DayLive Fri Nov 13 · 9–11 AM PST“A century of courage, reimagined as everyday kindness.”See ticket options#ElsieKindnessDay
ELSIE LINCOLN BENEDICTHistorical Author · Preserved by Heather Benedict
· International Opportunity League
Celebration · Nov 13, 2026

World Kindness Day · Live online celebration

Elsie International Kindness Day

“A century of courage, reimagined as everyday kindness.”

On Friday, November 13, 2026, Elsie's great-granddaughter Heather invites you to celebrate the active, practical kindness Elsie lived by. World Kindness Week theme: Small Acts, BIG Impact! Choose one small step and take it today.

Buy celebration ticket — $47Explore free tools ↓

2-hour live session · Nov 13, 9:00–11:00 AM PST · live online · refunds up to 1 day before

Sepia portrait of Elsie Lincoln Benedict in a satin headband and pearls
Elsie Lincoln Benedict, the original “Wonder Woman” · 1920s
Live online · 9:00–11:00 AM PSTFree tools for everyoneWorld Kindness Week · Nov 9–15#ElsieKindnessDay

Celebrate World Kindness Day 2026, November 13

World Kindness Day is celebrated around the world every November 13, at the heart of World Kindness Week (Nov 9–15). This year, join Elsie's great-granddaughter Heather for a live 2-hour online celebration on November 13, and use our free tools all week: 30 random acts of kindness ideas, kindness quotes to share, a free kindness e-card maker, a quiz, and a kindness pledge wall.

“You have the key to the door of Opportunity right in your pocket!”

— Elsie Lincoln Benedict, 1932

“Friend, if you've been waiting for ‘some day,’ choose one small step you can take today.”

— Heather Benedict, Elsie's great-granddaughter

Do one kind thing on November 13, then pass it on with #ElsieKindnessDay.

Why this year is different

Elsie's lessons of kindness were active, practical, and courageous

Elsie Lincoln Benedict at a ship's railing during her world travels

01

Kindness as open doors

She founded the Benedict School of Opportunity (“The Traveling University for Men and Women”) and the International Opportunity League so education would never belong only to the privileged. Her kindness was built into institutions that kept their doors open.

Archival · public record

Newspaper drawing of Elsie speaking while water is poured on her1916 newspaper cartoon of Elsie as a national suffrage organizer

02

Kindness with a backbone

In 1914, when a heckler poured water on her at a suffrage rally in Columbus Circle, she answered, “You can't dampen my enthusiasm in that way,” and kept speaking. Refusing to give up on people was her kind of kindness.

Archival · public record

Elsie smiling in a deck chair, with her quote about a smile

03

Kindness as understanding

Her human-analysis psychology began with one conviction: every person has value, and the deepest courtesy is to understand them as they are, not as you wish them to be.

Archival · public record

Quote wall

Quotes for Kindness Day, in her own words

Hand-colored portrait of Elsie Lincoln Benedict
“The only thing that can break out on your face and improve it, is a smile.”
Elsie Lincoln BenedictArchival family photographElsie's words
Hand-colored portrait of Elsie Lincoln Benedict
“You have the key to the door of Opportunity right in your pocket!”
Elsie Lincoln BenedictInternational Opportunity League materials, 1932Elsie's words
Hand-colored portrait of Elsie Lincoln Benedict
“You can't dampen my enthusiasm in that way.”
Elsie Lincoln BenedictSuffrage open-air meeting, Columbus Circle, NYC, c. 1914Elsie's words
Hand-colored portrait of Elsie Lincoln Benedict
“Think for yourself.”
Elsie Lincoln BenedictBrainology and lecture materials, 1928Elsie's words
Heather's commentary
“Friend, if you've been waiting for ‘some day,’ choose one small step you can take today.”
Heather BenedictContemporary invitation · not Elsie's wordsHeather's commentary
Archival photo card of Elsie with her quote about a smile
Archival artifact · family photograph

Celebration kit · free interactive tools

One week. Small acts. Big impact.

Use these four free tools today, and pass them on with #ElsieKindnessDay.

Tool 1

Daily kindness act

Learn the name of someone you see every week and use it.

attention

0 of 30 acts completed · saved on this device

Tool 2

Kindness card maker

“The only thing that can break out on your face and improve it, is a smile.”

Elsie Lincoln Benedict

#ElsieKindnessDay

Tool 3

Elsie's kindness lessons quiz

  1. 1. When someone doused Elsie with water at Columbus Circle, what did she say?

  2. 2. How did Elsie pay for her studies at the University of Denver?

  3. 3. What was the Benedict School of Opportunity also called?

  4. 4. What is Heather's proposed brand line for today's League?

Score: 0 / 4 · 4 to go

Tool 4

Kindness pledges wall

160 characters left · Keep it kind · Your wall is saved on this device unless you choose to share

  • “I will call my sister every Sunday instead of waiting for her to call.”

    — Margaret

  • “I will learn the names of everyone on my morning bus route.”

    — James

  • “I will teach one neighbor how to use video calls.”

    — Rosa

  • “I will listen to the end before I offer advice.”

    — Dev

  • “I will write one thank-you note a week until the new year.”

    — Claire

  • “I will speak up, kindly, when someone gets talked over.”

    — Sam

Share

Graphics to save and share

Elsie International Kindness Day celebration banner
Download celebration banner
Square quote card: You have the key to the door of Opportunity right in your pocket
Download square quote card

Take part

Four ways you can take part this week

Inspired by the official World Kindness Day guidance.

For individuals

  • Give one genuine, specific compliment.
  • Give back: a food drive, a donation, or an hour of help.
  • Send a digital kindness card from this page.
  • Take the daily kindness act.

For schools & educators

  • Read one of Elsie's quotes aloud and ask students what it means today.
  • Use the free activity packs at schoolofkindness.org.
  • Hand out simple kindness awards at the end of the week.

For workplaces

  • Run one team kindness challenge this week.
  • Host a 15-minute lunch-and-learn using Elsie's quotes.

For groups & families

  • Host a 20-minute conversation on Elsie's three kindness pillars.
  • Make cards together and send them the same day.

World Kindness Week · November 9–15, 2026 · Free digital resource

Get the free World Kindness Week Resource Kit

A printable kit for classrooms, workplaces and families: 30 small kindness acts, sourced Elsie quotes, a quiz, card templates and conversation guides. Official 2026 theme: “Small Acts, BIG Impact!”

Instant download · your email is saved for Heather's team · unsubscribe anytime

Choose how you take part

Join us live, Friday, November 13, 2026

Celebration ticket · Eventbrite

World Kindness Day: Celebrating Elsie Lincoln Benedict’s Legacy

Friday, November 13, 2026 · 9:00–11:00 AM PST · live online

  • 2-hour live session with Elsie's great-granddaughter Heather
  • Selected readings and poetry from Elsie's writings
  • Conversation on everyday kindness: how we listen, respond and disagree
  • A small-act-of-kindness practice you can carry forward

$47 per attendee

Get your ticket on EventbriteRefunds up to 1 day before the event
Add to Google Calendar

Hosted by Heather Benedict · presented by the International Opportunity League

Free community access

Free for everyone, always

The World Kindness Week Resource Kit, 30 daily acts, digital cards, the quiz and the pledge wall — no purchase needed.

Explore the free tools ↓

Get celebration updates

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Questions

Kindness Day FAQ

Proposed brand line: “Learn together. Take your next step.” (a contemporary line, not an Elsie quote)

Enjoying this? Pass it on

Send it to one person who would enjoy it, or post it with #ElsieKindnessDay. Every share helps Heather's team bring Elsie's story to more readers.